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People are angry because Facebook hasn't activated its 'Safety Check' feature yet after the deadly Brussels attacks

Mar 22, 2016, 15:29 IST

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Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks to reporters at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts November 7, 2011.REUTERS/Brian Snyder

People are calling on Facebook to activate its "Safety Check" features after a series of apparent terrorist attacks in Brussels have killed at least a dozen people and brought the city to a standstill.

On Tuesday morning, there were two explosions at an airport in Brussels, Belgium - as well as further explosions at city Metro stations. 13 are reportedly dead, and dozens more are injured.

There have immediately been calls for Facebook to activate its "Safety Check" feature, a tool that allows people in the area to check themselves in as safe following natural disasters or terror attacks. (The Independent previously reported on these calls.)

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It was activated in Paris following the deadly terror attacks in November 2015 - the first time it was used in the aftermath of a non-natural disaster. Since then it has been activated following attacks in Nigeria and Ankara, Turkey.

But around two hours after the Brussels attacks, it's not yet active in Belgium - prompting some frustration. There are multiple reports that phone lines and mobile networks are being overloaded, making it difficult for people to contact loved ones to check they are safe.

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Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It's possible that the social network is waiting to be sure there is no risk of further attacks in the city before activating the feature.

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